Chapter 53: Grant's Fist Sliced Through the Air Toward Elias

Grant's fist sliced through the air toward Elias.

"Looking to die?" His voice was hoarse with rage, eyes blazing. "When I was with her, you were still—"

Elias caught the punch effortlessly. While Grant seethed, he remained eerily calm—only the glacial glint in his eyes betrayed his fury.

"What are you?" Elias's tone could freeze hell. "A clingy ex? Or..."

A razor-edged pause.

"A criminal?"

Grant's face drained of color.

"You bastard—" He strained against Elias's grip.

The physicist didn't budge.

"Enough." Clara tightened her coat, rising on unsteady legs. Her whisper barely carried as she avoided Grant's gaze, addressing Elias instead. "Sorry you had to see this."

Elias's brow furrowed. "Should I call the police?"

A long silence. She shook her head. "Let's go."

Pointing to a burlap sack on the ground: "Could you grab that?"

One hand lifted the sack; the other steadied her. As they walked away, the crash of a shattered flowerpot echoed behind them.

* * *

Wind whipped through the car window as Clara watched the villa shrink in the rearview mirror. Six years ago, she'd moved in dreaming of endless tomorrows.

Now it was over.

The gusts tangled her hair as she leaned back, eyes closing in exhaustion.

Elias didn't interrupt. Pulling over, he drummed silent fingers on the steering wheel while she pretended to sleep.

"Thank you," she murmured without opening her eyes.

A sideways glance. "No trouble."

Her lips pressed together. The gratitude wasn't just for today—but for the quiet dignity he'd always shown her.

Grrr—

Her ears burned pink at the stomach's betrayal.

Elias's mouth quirked. "Ashford University dining hall. Hungry?"

Twenty minutes later, they stepped into the familiar campus cafeteria.